Store-service apparatus.



G. J. MILLER.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18, 1911. RENEWED MAY 8. 1913.

1,081 ,249, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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m 714 WM W CHARLES J'. MILLER, 01? MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY IVJLLESNE ASSIGN- MENTEl, TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, 075 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. GORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STORE-EEBIVIGE APPARATUS.

Application filed December 18, 1911, Serial No. 666,403. Renewed. May 8, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9,1913.

Serial No. reaeeo.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CriAnLns J. MILLER, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store'Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus and particularly to devices used in connection with the home station or the cashiers desk where, on account of the limited space, all working parts must be made as small and compact as possible.

The object of my invention. is to provide a home carrier station wherein all project ing parts will be located in front of the supporting hanger leaving the rear of the hanger unobstructed and thereby allowing the clerk to have convenient access to the carrier and basket.

The invention consists generally in providing a hanger, and a plunger operating in front of the hanger and a carrier having a depending part at its forward end in the path of the plunger.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a store service carrier station embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, illustrating the manner of mounting and withdrawing the propelling device or plunger after the carrier has been ejected from the station.

In the drawing, 2 represents a hanger, 3 a plate secured to the base of the hanger by bolts 4, and 5 a frame hinged on the forward end of the plate 3 by means of a pin 6 adjustable vertically by a bolt 7 pivoted at 8 on the plate 3 and having an adjustable lock nut connection 9 with the frame 5. A line wire 10 is connected to the pin 6 and the end of the pin is squared to allow it to be rotated for the purpose of tightening the wire, and. a set screw 11 is arranged to engage the pin 6 and lock it in any desired position. Friction arms 12 and 13 are provided on the frame 5 below the line wire, there being two pairs of these arms, the upper arms of each pair being vertically slidable 011 screws 14 and yieldingly held by springs 15. The upper and lower arms are upwardly and downwardly turned respectively and between the inner ends of said arms a sliding pin 16 is mounted in a bearing 17 and normally projected forward by a spring 18. This pin acts as a stop or buffer for the carrier 19 when it enters the station. The carrier has wheels 20 to travel upon the line wire, and an arm 21 which engages the buffer pin. [laterally extending pins 22 are passed between the friction arms and tend to separate them, the friction produced being suiiicient to gradually stop the momentum of the carrier. A basket 23 is hung by rods 24 on the carrier and at the outer end of the carrier, (the forward end in the figure) is a depending bracket 25. A tube 26 is mounted in the bracket 5 and a pusher, or plunger 27 is slidably arranged in said tube and has a forward end adapted to engage the bracket. 25 and propel the carrier from the station. A lug 28 is secured to the inner end of the plunger and depends through a slot 29 in the tube. A link 30 is pivotally connected to the said lug; and a propelling or pull cord 31 is attached to said link and carried around an anti-friction wheel 32 supported by a bracket 33 at the forward end of said tube and from thence is carried back over an anti-friction roller 34 and terminates in a suitable handle 35. A cord 36 is also attached to the inner end. of the plunger and is coiled within a drum 37 and is normally wound up therein by the tension of a spring 38. In operation, the clerk will grasp the handle 36 and throw the plunger forward against the bracket 25 and drive the carrier and basket out of the station. As soon. as the plunger is released the spring 38 will wind up the drum and pull the plunger back into the tube in position to again eject the carrier when it is returned to the station.

This device, having no rearwardlv projecting parts and the plunger operating; within a limited spa cc, is particularly adapted for use at a cashiers desk, or home sta tion, as it is usually termed, where a number of lines converge and there would not be sufiicient room to suspend or use a store service apparatus with parts projecting rearwardlv from the hanger or with plungers requiring considerable space for their movement.

The device being so compact can be multiplied at the cashiers desk for the desired number of lines and still leave suflicient space for the cashier at the rear of the hanger and allow convenient access to the baskets.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a carrier station, of a line wire and carrier, said carrier having a depending part near its outer or forward end, a reciprocating plunger arranged to contact with said depending part, a guide for said plunger, a pulley mounted on the outer portion of said guide, a propelling cord attached to the rear portion of said plunger and passing around said pulley, a second pulley mounted near the rear end of said plunger and supporting said propelling cord, and a retracting spring connected with said plunger.

2. The combination, with a hanger, of a bracket mounted thereon, a line wire connected with said bracket, acarrier, a tube mounted in said bracket parallel, substantially, with said line wire, a propelling plunger slidable in said tube and having a forward end adapted to contact with said carrier to project it from the station, a spring device for retracting said plunger, and a propelling cord connected with said plunger and operating to project said plunger against the tension of said spring.

3. The combination, with a hanger and a line wire connected therewith, of a carrier, a tube supported by said hanger parallel, substantially, with said line wire, a plunger slidable in said tube and having a forward end adaptedfto contact with and project said carrier from the station, a drum mounte'd near the rear end of said tube, a cord wound on said drum and attached to said plunger, a spring normally tending to wind said cord on said drum and retract said plunger, and means for projecting said plunger against the tension of said spring.

st. The combination, with a hanger and a line wire connected therewith, of a carrier, a tube supported by said hanger beneath and parallel substantially with said line wire and having open ends, a plunger slidable in said tube, a spring-actuated drum arranged near the rear open end of said tube, a cord attached at one end to said drum and normally wound thereon and having its other end eX'tending into the open rear end ofsaid tube and connected to said plunger, and a propelling cord attached to said plunger.

5. The combination, with a hanger, of a structure supported thereby which comprises a plate secured to said hanger, a frame having a pivotal connection at one portion thereof with said plate, an adjustable connection between another portion of said frame and said plate for tilting said frame with respect to said plate, a line wire attached to said structure, a carrier therefor, a sliding, spring-retracted plunger and a guide therefor, and a propelling cord operating to project said plunger into contact with said carrier.

6. The combination, with a hanger, and a line wire, of a carrier, a guide supported parallel with said line wire, a plunger slidable in said guide, a spring actuated drum arranged near the rear end of said guide, a cord attached to said drum and normally wound thereon and connected to said plunger, and a propelling cord attached to said plunger.

7. In a store service apparatus, a line wire, a carrier, a guide substantially parallel with said line wire, a support for said guide, a pusher slidably movable longitudinally over said guide, a spring-actuated drum, disposed near the rear end of said guide,a cord attached to said drum, and normally wound thereon and connected to said pusher, said spring-actuated drum adapted to retract said pusher through the intermediacy of said cord, and a pull cord for causing said pusher to project said carrier away from said support. 7

S. In a store service apparatus, the combination, with a carrier station, of a line wire and carrier, a pusher adapted to project said carrier from said station, said carrier having a part near its outer or forward end which is in engagement with said pusher when the carrier is being projected, and means for moving said pusher to project said carrier.

9. In a store service apparatus, the combination with a carrier station, of a line wire and carrier, a pusher adapted to project said carrier from said station, said carrier having a part near its outer or forward end, which is in engagement with said pusher when the carrier is being projected, means for moving said pusher to project said carrier, and means for thereafter retracting said pusher.

10. In a store service apparatus, a combination with a support, of a frame pivotally secured thereto, an adjustable connection between said frame and said support for tilting the frame with respect to said support, a track extending in adjacency to said frame, a carrier adapted to travel on said track, a plunger adapted for engagement with a part of said carrier, a guide for said plunger, and a propelling cord op erating to project said Wire through the In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set intermediacy 0g si aid plunger, sagld gluide my hand this 28 day of September, 1910. connected to sai rame and move e tierewith, and said adjustable connection be- CHARLES MILLER tween said frame and support permitting Witnesses:

said plunger to be centered with respect GENEVIEVE E. SORENSEN,

to said part of said carrier which it engages. EDWARD A. PAUL.

(Ponies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, I). G. 

